Ratha Jatra to be held on one date nationwide

Puri: In view of Ratha Jatra being celebrated across the globe on separate dates, authorities decided to conduct the world famous festival of Lord Jagannath on one date to be fixed as per the Hindu almanac in the country.

The move came at a meeting of Srimandir Managing Committee chaired by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb held here today.

The panel came out in support for holding Ratha Jatra nationwide on same day (2nd day of Ashadha month Suklua Pakshya) when the nine-day sojourn is being celebrated at Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s pilgrim town Puri.

A letter will be written in this regard to other states where the annual Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath is being celebrated across the country.

Besides, the members of the committee decided to expedite ‘Adarsh Gurukulam’, a proposed model school for children of Srimandir servitors.

A sub-committee has been constituted for preparing plan and design of the proposed Gurukul, informed Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Krishan Kumar.

The children of servitors who are enrolled in other schools will get scholarship, he said.

In the wake of protest against eviction drive by the district administration to clear structures around Srimandir, he said that a development sub-panel will be formed for revival and management of mutts and religious establishments demolished in the beautification project.